EU

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered before the discussion club Valdai a speech with the theme “Future begins today: the lines of the world of tomorrow.” He took the opportunity to respond to criticism of the Russian operation in Aleppo. Should we rejoice, the Russian president mentioned Israel’s struggle for survival. A fight which he must set an example in the international struggle against terrorism.

“We always hear: Aleppo, Aleppo, Aleppo. But yes ! And what is the problem. (…) If we do not touch it, then it must be the same with the offensive on Mosul. Allowed to flow. Do not touch in Raqqa. For our European partners continue to talk about the offensive Raqqa and the need to liquidate the nest of terrorism. But there are also civilians there, Raqqa! So we no longer struggle against the terrorists? When they take hostage of civilians in any city, is dropped? The example of Israel is to follow. They never act in this way. They survive thanks to this, and they do not have a choice. We must fight. If every time we give in the ground, we will lose, “said Vladimir Putin.

Israel’s evocation Putin is double-edged. On the one hand, Jerusalem is proud to arouse the admiration of the Kremlin master in the fight against terrorism. On the other hand, compare the strong-arm methods and indiscriminate Russian army in Syria is not very flattering to the Jewish state that prides itself to have the most moral army in the world.

The 13th conference of the Valdai Club was held from October 24 to 27 in Sochi. Established in September 2004, the Club Valdai international discussion brings together every year political analysts from different countries and covers topics including discussion allows foreign participants to better understand Russia. This year, more than 130 experts participated in the discussion club.

“The call to boycott Israel is part of freedom of expression,” just said Federica Mogherini, who is head of the foreign policy of the European Union.

In response to a written question, she said “the European Union strongly supports the right of citizens to boycott Israel,” in what constitutes a new attack against the Jewish state on the part of Ms. Mogherini.

“The EU defends freedom of expression and association, in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which applies to member states of the EU, including with regard to BDS shares ( boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) conducted on this territory “aA said the head of European diplomacy.

While stating that “the EU does not share the BDS strategy to isolate Israel,” it was clear on what it considers “the legitimacy” in this way to defend the rights of Palestinians. BDS has recently been adopted by three states pointed against Israel, Sweden, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Western leaders breathed a sigh of relief as the linchpin to addressing Europe’s growing migrant crisis and the key launchpad for NATO’s Middle East missions stayed in one piece, but many are wondering aloud just how long will it be before Erdogan overplays his hand.

The failed coup attempt in Turkey led by a faction of the military seeking the overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan citing the leader’s abysmal record on free speech, democratic freedoms, and human rights may be the final death knell for both NATO and the European Union who are holding onto the increasingly undemocratic leader for dear life.

illion additional Syrian refugees flooding into the continent and kept alive a controversial deal with Turkey to help stem the migration crisis that has led to the resurgence of ultra-right nationalism.

The United States, notwithstanding allegations by the Turkish Labor Minister that the coup plot had Washington’s fingerprints all over it, was also relieved to maintain its leading regional partner and a critical component in the NATO security force as Turks managed to repel the government overthrow.

Washington would have been forced under US law to remove its military forces from Turkey, including its fleet of fighter jets at the Incirlik airbase that serves as a critical launchpad for NATO’s missions in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The United States is barred from providing military aid or stationing troops in any country that has fallen under control of a military coup government.

The West now faces a troubling decision, with President Erdogan expected to crackdown on dissent with more fury than ever before, whether they choose to stand beside an increasingly undemocratic leader for the sake of preservation or whether they ultimately will have to transition their national strategies.

“Erdogan will be judged on his own response,” one EU official involved in the migrant deal with Turkey said, citing arrests of judges as an early sign that justified “deep concern that this will lead to a new trampling on rights of freedom of expression and demonstration.”

In total, over 2,745 judges have been arrested along with 2,800 soldiers as the Turkish leader strips away the last semblances of checks and balances within the country.

Germany’s foreign affairs committee chair Elmar Brok predicted that “Erdogan will try to extend his position of power” and French President Francois Hollande said very simply that he expects “repression.”

The emboldened Erdogan had already stripped opposition Kurdish parliamentarians of immunity by enacting a constitutional amendment in May leaving many EU lawmakers to worry that the Turkish president will move to imprison these opposition lawmakers under the country’s expanded terrorism code.

Still another EU official said that “clearly Europe would have more reasons to worry if the coup had prevailed,” but if Turkey proceeds to imprison peaceful opposition en masse then many European lawmakers signal that they will be forced to oppose the immigration deal that is keeping the European Union together by a thread.

Washington and NATO may have a little less at stake in hoping that Erdogan transitions his government towards a less autocratic format in the wake of the coup attempt, a very unlikely scenario, than German who has already taken in over 2 million Syrian refugees causing widespread anger among voters who feel that their culture is under siege and France which faced yet another attack at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists this week.

However, the image of the United States as a beacon of democracy, the motif carried under the banner of both the American flag and NATO forces, would be ultimately exposed as a myth if Erdogan undertakes a purge of all opposition moving for mass imprisonment or a return of the death penalty.

If Erdogan overplays his cards, Friday’s failed coup may be the final death knell in the coffin of NATO and the European Union or at minimum a major destabilizing force for these leading powers in the global order.

06/27/2016

EUROPEAN political chiefs are to take advantage of Brexit by unveiling their long-held plan to morph the continent’s countries into one GIANT SUPERSTATE, it has emerged today.

The foreign ministers of France and Germany are due to reveal a blueprint to effectively do away with individual member states in what is being described as an “ultimatum”.

Under the radical proposals EU countries will lose the right to have their own army, criminal law, taxation system or central bank, with all those powers being transferred to Brussels.

Controversially member states would also lose what few controls they have left over their own borders, including the procedure for admitting and relocating refugees.

The plot has sparked fury and panic in Poland – a traditional ally of Britain in the fight against federalism – after being leaked to Polish news channel TVP Info.

Polish politicians say the plans include loss of control of a number of key policy areas

Polish foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski has blasted the plan

The public broadcaster reports that the bombshell proposal will be presented to a meeting of the Visegrad group of countries – made up of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia – by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier later today.

Excerpts of the nine-page report were published today as the leaders of Germany, France and Italy met in Berlin for Brexit crisis talks.

The revelations come just days after Britain shook the Brussels establishment by voting to leave the European Union in a move some have predicted could leave to the break-up of the EU.

A number of member states are deeply unhappy about the creeping federalism of the European project with anti-EU sentiments running high in eastern Europe, Scandinavia and France.

Opponents of the EU have warned of its ambitions to create a superstate

Britain voted to leave the European Union in an historic referendum last Thursday

Responding to the plot Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski raged: “This is not a good solution, of course, because from the time the EU was invented a lot has changed.

“The mood in European societies is different. Europe and our voters do not want to give the Union over into the hands of technocrats.

“Therefore, I want to talk about this, whether this really is the right recipe right now in the context of a Brexit.”

There are deep divides at the heart of the EU at the moment over how to proceed with the project in light of the Brexit vote.

Some figures have cautioned against trying to force through further political integration, warning that to do so against the wishes of the European people will only fuel further Eurosceptic feeling.

This is not a good solution

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski

A few weeks before the Brexit vote European Council president Donald Tusk warned that European citizens did not share the enthusiasm of some of their leaders for “a utopia of Europe without conflicting interests and ambitions, a utopia of Europe imposing its own values on the external world, a utopia of Euro-Asian unity”.

He added: “Increasingly louder are those who question the very principle of a united Europe. The spectre of a break-up is haunting Europe and a vision of a federation doesn’t seem to me to be the best answer to it.”

His view was backed up by the leader of the eurozone countries, Dutch politician Jerome Dijsselbloem, who added: “In the eurozone some are pushing for a completion of the monetary union by creating a full political union, a euro area economic government or even a euro budget… to me it is obvious.

“We need to strengthen what we have and finish it, but let’s not build more extensions to the European house while it is so unstable.”

Meanwhile Lorenzo Condign, the former director general of Italy’s treasury, has said it is nearly impossible to see Europe opting for more integration at such a time of upheaval.

He said: “It seems difficult to imagine that the rest of the EU will close ranks and move in the direction of greater integration quickly. Simply, there is no political will.

“Indeed, the risk is exactly the opposite – namely that centrifugal forces will prevail and make integration even more difficult.”

But others see the Brexit vote as an opportunity to push ahead with the European elite’s long-cherished dream of creating a United States of Europe.

Spain’s foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo has called for “more Europe” whilst Italy’s finance minister, Carlo Padoan, is advocating a common budget for the eurozone states.

And Emmanuel Macron, France’s economy minister, wants to go even further and set up a common eurozone treasury which would oversee the permanent transfer of funds from wealthier northern Europe to shore up Mediterranean economies.

Express.co. uk

EU Council president says any peace deal between Palestinians and Israelis would be accompanied by huge package of political, economic and security support for both sides; ‘Lasting peace remains top priority.’

A top European Union official says the bloc stands ready to provide Israel and the Palestinians with massive political, economic and security support as part of any peace agreement between them.

European Council President Donald Tusk said Tuesday that the EU will “back up a peace deal with an unprecedented package of cooperation and support to both Israel and the future state of Palestine.”

EU foreign ministers expressed determination on Monday to throw the organization’s weight behind Middle East peace moves and a possible international conference before the end of the year.

They invited EU agencies to present proposals “including on economic incentives, without delay.”

During a meeting between President Rivlin and Tusk, which took place shortly before the statements were made, Rivlin said, “Promoting peace in the Middle East is a vital interest of Israel. At the same time, I believe that our special bi-lateral relations can grow and develop in an independent way.”

Tusk acknowledged Israel’s security concerns: “We will deepen our cooperation on counter-terrorism, including by launching our dialogue in this area later this year. Terrorism can only be defeated if we face it together.”

“The Council welcomes the Joint Communiqué on the Middle East peace initiative adopted at the Ministerial meeting in Paris on 3 June 2016,” the ministers said in a joint statement issued following their meeting in Brussels on Monday.

“The Council reiterates its support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and peace and stability in the region.”

EU Foreign Affairs Council ‘welcomes the Joint Communiqué on the Middle East peace initiative’

European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council has decided to adopt the French peace initiative, according to a statement released Monday afternoon.

“The Council welcomes the Joint Communiqué on the Middle East peace initiative adopted at the Ministerial meeting in Paris on 3 June 2016,” it read.

“The Council reiterates its support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and peace and stability in the region. The EU is determined, alongside other international and regional partners, to bring a concrete and substantial contribution to a global set of incentives for the parties to make peace.

“The Council also reaffirms the European proposal, as endorsed in the Council Conclusions of December 2013, of an unprecedented package of political, economic and security support to be offered to and developed with both parties in the context of a final status agreement.”

The Foreign Affairs Council consulted with the Quartet, comprised of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, before coming to its decision. A full report will be released this weekend, though Israeli officials are already concerned about its content.